Summer STEM – Parachute Knight

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 29, 2020 | Blog, Craft Instructions Post, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Parachute Knight

Week 3 of Summer STEM from Your Library

Watch the Instruction Video

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Experiment with air resistance by making parachutes!

You will need string, a straw, a sandwich bag and/or coffee filter, and a toy figure.

Pull one of the strings through the straw. Cut off the zipper portion of the bag.
Reach into the bag and pull both bottom corners in so they’re inside the bag.
Tie an end of the string to each bottom corner of the bag.
Pull the next string through the straw. Tie the ends to the knight.

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Enter to win STEM-themed prizes by sending us a photo of you doing one of these activities! Place the photo in the body of your email (no attachments) and send it to madisonlib.org@gmail.com. We’ll hold drawings at the end of the month!

January Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | December 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeJanuary Story Time is serving up something soup-er! Book Babies (infants/babies not yet walking and their caregivers) meet Wednesdays at 9:30 AM with songs, stories, and sensory fun for our "Soup’s On!" theme. (Library Closed Jan. 1) Toddler Time (walking...

November Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | October 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeNovember Story Time is here, and our themes are “Duck, Duck, Goose!” for Book Babies and Toddler Time and the letter “G” for Story Time! Join us in the Community Room for songs, stories, and sensory activities perfect for each age group. Book Babies...

October Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | September 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeGallop into Story Time fun this October! Toddler Time (ages 10-23 months) on Mondays & Tuesdays at 9:30 AM and Book Babies (ages 0-9 months) on Wednesdays at 9:30 AM will both feature “Clippity-clop, on a horse and pony we’ll hop!” Note: there will be no...

September 2024 Activities for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | August 29, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeJoin us for Story Time fun at Madison Library District! Book Babies (0-9 months) Wednesdays at 9:30 AM in the Community Room September theme: "Feelings... Big and Small!" Toddler Time (10-23 months) Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:30 AM September theme:...

July 2024 Kids & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 27, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading 2024Adventure Begins at Your Library with Summer Reading 2024! This annual program is designed for all ages to read every day, participate in special Library programs, and keep smashing our reading goals! The second prizes for every level will be...

June 2024 Kid & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | May 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading 2024Adventure Begins at Your Library with Summer Reading 2024! This annual program is designed for all ages to read every day, participate in special Library programs, and stay active all summer long! Sign-ups begin on Monday, June 3rd, either online or...

April 2024 Kids & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 29, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

National Library Week Book Nook ContestStep into a world of tiny wonders during National Library Week! Our Book Nook Contest invites you to explore Small Adventures to Amazing Places! From fantastical realms to cozy real-world corners, you may create a miniature...

Kid & Tween Activities March 2024

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 1, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeJoin us in March for a world of imagination and learning at Story Time! This month we’re celebrating author-illustrator, Eric Carle! Preschool Story Time (ages 2-5): Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10:30 AM and Tuesdays at 6:30 PM. Toddler Time (ages 10-23...

Kid & Tween Activities February 2024

by Mary Kirkpatrick | January 31, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story TimeJoin us in February for a world of imagination and learning at Story Time! Preschool Story Time (ages 2-5): It’s all about the Letter V! Explore Veggies, Valentine’s Day, Violins, and Something NEW, Just For You! Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10:30 AM and...

January Kid & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | December 29, 2023 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Story Time Preschool Story Time (ages 2-5): It’s all about the Letter D! Explore Dance, Dinosaurs, Dirt, Disguises, and Something NEW, Just For You! Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10:30 AM Toddler Time (ages 10-23 months): Dive into the exciting world of dinosaurs with...

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 22 and 24

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 24, 2020 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner | 0 comments

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 22 and 24

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 22 and 24, 2020

Toddler Time for ages 10 to 23 months – 9:45 am Mondays (June 22)

Book Babies for ages 0 to 9 months – 9:45 am Wednesdays (June 24)

Bibbidi-bobbidi… WHO? Do you know the magic words to be a prince or a princess for a day? If you don’t say the proper magic words, you might turn into a dog, cat, duck, or frog!

See the Toddler and Baby Time Videos on Facebook!

Welcome Songs

Here We Are Together

Here we are together, together, together!
Oh, here we are together in our library.
There’s (sing names)…
Here we are together in our library!

Hello Everybody

Hello everybody let’s clap our hands*,
clap our hands,
clap our hands.
Hello everybody let’s clap our hands today!

*pat our head, stretch up high, wiggle our fingers, tickle our knees, kick our feet, bounce up high!

S, T, R, W, P

(Sing while pointing to each finger on your child’s hand.)

Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play!
Sing, talk, read, write, play each day!

Books Presented

Diaper Changing Songs and Fingerplays

Diaper Changing: You’re My Little Baby, Soft and Sweet

(Tune: I’m a Little Teapot)

You’re my little baby
So soft and sweet
Here are your hands
Here are your feet
I’ll watch you clap your hands
And tap your feet
I love you baby
So soft and sweet

Let’s Tap Our Feet Together

(Tune: The More We Get Together)

Let’s tap our feet together, together, together,
Let’s tap our feet together
It’s so fun to do.

(Additional verses):
Clap our hands . . .
Touch our nose . . .
Blink our eyes . . .

Where is Thumbkin (Royal family edition)

Thumb: King
Pointer: Queen
Middle Finger: Prince
Ring Finger: Princess
Pinky Finger: Royal Baby

Songs and Rhymes

Ten Little Puppies

One little, two little, three little puppies,
Four little, five little, six little puppies,
Seven little, eight little, nine little puppies,
Ten puppies bark like this – “Woof, Woof!”

In the Morning

When Cats get up in the morning they always say MEOW
When Cats get up in the morning they always say meow
And what do cats say?

The Grand Old Duke of York

The Grand Old Duke of York
The Grand Old Duke of York
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And marched them down again!

And when they’re up, they’re up.
And when they’re down, they’re down.
And when they’re only half-way up,
They’re neither up nor down!

He marched them to the left
He marched them to the right.
He marched them to the top of the hill
And marched them out of sight.

– Traditional

Five Little Ducks

Galumph went the Little Green Frog

Craft Activity

Tower

Build a tower with cups, blocks, or other materials.

Drop and Watch from the “Tower”

Babies love to throw things from a higher perch such as their high chair or Grandma’s lap. Watching things fall is actually teaching them cause and effect. Try giving them toys in their high chair and sit below on the floor. Then have them toss or hand the toys to you. TALK about up & down with them.

- Baby Play

Signing Songs

“Sleep”

(tune “The Farmer in Dell)
We ask to go to SLEEP,
we ask to go to SLEEP.
(Open hand at top of head, pull down and bring fingers together)
When it’s time to go to bed,
we ask to go to SLEEP.

“Bed”

(tune “The Farmer in Dell)
We ask for BED like this,
we ask for BED like this.
(Lay head on back of hands and lean to side)
When we’re tired and want a nap,
we ask for BED like this.

“Up”

You can use this sign with the Grand Old Duke of York rhyme above.

“Down“

You can use this sign with the Grand Old Duke of York rhyme above.

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

Using concept words with your children helps to expand their vocabulary. Children need a large vocabulary to be able to learn to read and, just as important, to understand what they read, We want them to learn not only that fire is hot and ice is cold but also that hot and cold are opposites. Concept words show relationships between things.

- Lambert

Activity

Recite “The Grand Old Duke of York.” Do it as a knee bounce, bringing knees up for “up” and down for “down,” and then read a book that introduces concepts, such as size, opposites, etc.

Additional Books

Story Time June 23, 2020

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 23, 2020 | Blog, Story Time | 0 comments

Story Time June 23, 2020

Story Time – June 23, 2020

10:30 am ONLINE on Facebook – ages 2 to 5

This week, we cooked up “royal” fairy tales with kings, queens, princes, princesses, and peas! So, get a spoon ‘n pot and cook up your own fairy tales with these “royal” books and activities.

See the Story Time Video on Facebook!

Early Literacy Tip and Activity:

Tip

- Lambert

Activity

Recite “The Grand Old Duke of York.” Do it as a knee bounce, bringing knees up for “up” and down for “down,” and then read a book that introduces concepts, such as size, opposites, etc.

Books Presented

Songs, Rhymes and Fingerplays

Castle Capers

I am the king of running,
I run and run and run.
My subjects all run with me,
And we have so much fun!

I am the prince of turning,
I turn and turn and turn.
My subjects all turn with me
It’s an easy thing to learn!

I am the princess of dancing,
I dance and dance and dance
My subjects all dance with me
And dance when they get the chance!

I am the Queen of jumping,
I jump and jump and jump.
My subjects all jump with me
And sit down with a bump.

-MissSarahStoryTime.blogspot.com

Queen Elsa’s Crowns

(To the tune of Mary Wore her Red Dress, using different colored crowns)

Queen Elsa wore her purple crown, purple crown, purple, crown.
Queen Elsa wore her purple crown, every Sunday!

– MissSarahStoryTime.blogspot.com

Curtsy Like a Princess/Bow Like a Prince

(Tune: Skip to My Lou)

Curtsy like a princess just like so
Curtsy like a princess just like so
Curtsy like a princess just like so
Curtsy like a princess!

Bow like a prince just like so…
Juggle like a jester just like so…
Fly like a fairy just like so…
Roar like a dragon, just like so…

– Storytimesecrets.blogspot.com

The Grand Old Duke of York

The Grand Old Duke of York
The Grand Old Duke of York
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And marched them down again!

And when they’re up, they’re up.
And when they’re down, they’re down.
And when they’re only half-way up,
They’re neither up nor down!

He marched them to the left
He marched them to the right.
He marched them to the top of the hill
And marched them out of sight.

– Traditional

Five Fat Peas

Five fat peas in a pea pod pressed (hold up five fingers)
One grew (hold up one finger)
Two grew (hold up two fingers)
And so did the rest (hold up the rest of your fingers)
They grew and they grew and they did not stop (open and shut hands)
Until one day, the pod went pop! (clap hands together on pop)

Craft Activities

Print out this castle coloring page or color online.

Go to the coloring page!

Print out and play with these Cinderella finger puppets!

Print them out here!

Decorate and wear a paper plate crown!

Find full instructions here!

Additional Books

Find it in our catalog

Summer STEM – Coded Messages

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 22, 2020 | Blog, Craft Instructions Post, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Coded Messages

Week 2 of Summer STEM from Your Library

Watch the Video Instructions

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Encode hidden messages with a crayon and water color paint!

Use the white crayon to write out your message on a blank piece of paper.
To reveal your message, paint over it with watercolors.

Pro tip: Encode your message before writing it in white to add another layer. Try a Caesar Cipher.

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

January Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | December 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

November Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | October 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

October Programs for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | September 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

September 2024 Activities for Kids ‘n’ Tweens

by Mary Kirkpatrick | August 29, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

July 2024 Kids & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | June 27, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

June 2024 Kid & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | May 30, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer Reading 2024Adventure Begins at Your Library with Summer Reading 2024! This annual program is designed for all ages to read every day, participate in special Library programs, and stay active all summer long! Sign-ups begin on Monday, June 3rd, either online or...

April 2024 Kids & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 29, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Kid & Tween Activities March 2024

by Mary Kirkpatrick | March 1, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Kid & Tween Activities February 2024

by Mary Kirkpatrick | January 31, 2024 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

January Kid & Tween Activities

by Mary Kirkpatrick | December 29, 2023 | Blog, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Story Time, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 Comments

Summer STEM for Kids and Tweens

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 19, 2020 | Blog, Craft Instructions Post, Kid STEAM, Kid's Corner, Tween Scene, Tween STEAM | 0 comments

Summer STEM for Kids and Tweens

This summer, we’ll be doing video crafting focusing on STEM activities. Our Kids’ Corner and Tween Scene web pages will have links to videos with the instructions and demonstrations for each craft activity.

You can come by and pick up a Grab-n-Go craft bag with all supplies needed for the activity. These bags will be available on the first Monday of each week. We only have a limited number of these, so once they’re gone, they’re gone! We’ve included the lists of supplies for each craft in case you don’t get one of the Grab-n-Go bags. That way, you may use your own supplies and follow along with our videos.

Themes and Crafts for June:

June 16 Dragons- Charm the Dragon (Dragon Snake Charmer)
- tissue paper
- ball-point pen
- wool
- aluminum foil sheet
June 22 Royalty- Communicate with the princess in the Tower (Secret Codes)
- white crayon
- water color paint
June 29 Jack and the Beanstalk- Need a way down (Ziploc bag parachute)
- ziploc bag
- yarn or string
- knight toy
- big straw

Themes and Crafts for July:

July 6 Three Little Pigs- Scare the wolf (film canister rocket)
- plastic film canister
- antacid tablet
July 13 Goldilocks- Who dunnit? (DIY DNA)
- licorice twists
- 4 colors of jellybeans
- a handful of toothpicks
July 20 Cave of Wonders- Wishes in the lights (bubble lamp in a bag)
- Ziploc bag
- antacid tablet
- water
- oil
- UV light
- highlighter
- paper towel

Enter the Summer STEM drawing!

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 15 and 17, 2020

by Lauren Abbott | Jun 17, 2020 | Blog, Book Babies, Kid's Corner | 0 comments

Toddler Time and Book Babies – June 15 and 17, 2020

Toddler Time for ages 10 to 23 months – 9:45 am Mondays (June 15)

Book Babies for ages 0 to 9 months – 9:45 am Wednesdays (June 17)

Summer Reading 2020 is here! We are going to “Imagine Your Story” this year. So, find your imagination. sprinkle magic dust, and you will find… Dragons! Madison Library District is open. Come on in and check out some of these books when you sign up for Summer Reading.

See the Toddler and Baby Time Videos on Facebook!